Donkey Tales

Morning calm embraces a donkey in Overberg's gentle hills.

The early morning light painted the hills of the Overberg region with soft, pastel shades of pink and orange, gently illuminating the quiet farmlands near Caledon. This peaceful scene unfolded close to Dassiesfontein Farm Stall, a popular stop along South Africa's N2, known for its rustic charm and warm hospitality, on our way to Arniston.

Here, standing quietly by a barbed-wire fence, was a solitary donkey with a coat the colour of sun-bleached wheat. Donkeys have long been emblematic of rural life in South Africa, known for their hardiness and strength, essential in both historical and contemporary agricultural practices. At Dassiesfontein Farm Stall, these gentle animals are not only part of the working landscape but have become a beloved attraction for visitors, who pause on their journeys to enjoy a moment with these unassuming creatures.

In this particular image, the donkey gazed thoughtfully through the fence, seemingly captivated by two African Common White butterflies perched on a nearby wooden post. Though the butterflies—common inhabitants of the Overberg’s grasslands and gardens—provided an element of delicate beauty, it was the donkey and its surroundings that truly captured the essence of the rural landscape.

The barbed-wire fence subtly marked a boundary, symbolising the intersection of freedom and containment, labour and leisure, dreams and reality. The donkey, a creature accustomed to steady labour, appeared in a moment of pause, its gentle eyes suggesting contemplation or curiosity, perhaps reflecting on the quiet rhythms of farm life.

Dassiesfontein Farm Stall, situated conveniently along the N2, is celebrated by travellers and locals alike. Its rustic appeal is complemented by the presence of its resident donkeys, whose calm demeanour and friendly disposition enhance the experience of those who visit. While specific breed information about these donkeys remains scarce, their significance to the farm’s atmosphere is undeniable.

The African Common White butterfly (Belenois creona), though less central to this scene, remains an integral part of the region's natural biodiversity. Frequently found around gardens and wild caper bushes, these butterflies quietly underscore the biodiversity of the Overberg.

This image, created on 23 March 2025, is a photographic composite combining original captures of the African butterflies with the serene farm landscape of the Overberg. The composition reflects an artistic choice designed to blend reality with a dreamlike aesthetic, using no artificial intelligence in its creation. It stands as a genuine representation and tribute to the subtle, enduring beauty of South Africa’s rural countryside.

Rolling Vistas Collection

Welcome to Terra Firma, a place we've inhabited since life began. A place we do not often see for its sheer magnitude and beauty, a place of enormous history and a billion stories to be told and shared.

There is tremendous beauty here for us to see too. We just have to find it, take a moment, and realize it is all around us. We explore the hills, mountains, and crazy landscapes all around us. From far and distant horizons and glorious sunsets to Mother Earth’s own expressions above, ahead, or below us through its vast continents and rolling lands.

Sony A7iii, Sony FE 70-200mm GM OSS II, FL: 70mm, S:1/640, F:7.1, ISO:125